My main problem as a tail back

Question
QUESTION: Hey 1st and foremost I'd like to to thank you for reading my question. My name is Carl and I play running back for Holy Cross HS in Flushing, NY. I'm going to be a junior in September and this will be my first year as a varsity player. I'm about 5'8" 149 Lbs. The last time I ran my 40 I ran a 4.56 although I'm not sure if it has changed for the worse or better since then. Anyway the main areas in which I feel I need to improve as a running back is blocking and catching. As you have read I am not the biggest guy in the world so I have always had problems blocking. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to become a better blocker and how to gain some weight. I talked to my offensive coach and he thinks I'd be set if I could get up to about 160lbs. by training camp. Also my other problem is that I'd like to get better at catching the ball. We run a west coast style offense so the running backs are required to catch the ball a lot of the time. I never had great hands but I am improving and I began to use gloves some time last season and it helped. Although I still don't have the surest hands in the world. How can I further improve my hands? Please get back to me on these problems because I'd really like to improve in these areas. Thanks for your help.

ANSWER:       Blocking is mostly about effort and desire.  You need to treat a block, like you were getting the ball on a carry.  If you try as hard at blocking as you do when you get the ball you will have know problems.  Give blocking the same passion as running the ball.  Technique wise, blocking requires a low base with wide feet, for balance.  Engage the man from low to high, use a lot of hands to his chest.   Gaining weight will be hard for a guy your size.  But I would suggest over eating, along with lifting weights.  Eat lots of Carbohydrates and proteins.  Foods like Peanut butter, Tuna fish, Steak, pasta's and fish.  Increase your calorie intake from 2000 a day to 3500 a day.  GOOD LUCK COACH NOEL!!

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QUESTION: O ok thanx a lot. I'm really gonna focus on addin more calories and protein 2 my diet. I also read somewhere that athletes need more vitamin supplements than the regular person. So I was wondering how do you suggest I go about getting more vitamin supplements in my system. And do you thin k this will also help me in putting on a few more pounds. And also you never answered my question about improving my hands. Is there anything you could suggest that would help me improve? Thanks

Answer
    Creatin, is a good weight lifter supplement, for gaining mass, that has been around for a long while that is safe.  I'm personally not familiar with thin k, so I can't recommend that.  Along with the creatin, maybe just taking a multi vitamin daily would also be good for a young athlete like yourself.  As for improving your hands, the only thing that I can suggest is more and more practice.  You need to catch at least 100 balls a day, everyday until the season gets here.  Be sure to catch the ball softly, do not  attack the ball.  Try to open your hands as wide as you can.  Form your hands into a diamond shape, were your thumbs and index figures come together forming a pocket.  When the ball begins to hit your hands receive it softly, let your hands give a little on each catch so that their is a kinder collision, between hands and the ball.  Practice daily and they will get better.  COACH NOEL!